Beyoncé’s Obsession With The Number 4, Explained

To hear her explain it, the numeral has been an invisible hand guiding her through life. She was born on September 4, and Jay Z was born on December 4. Their daughter's middle name is Ivy, after the roman numeral four. And that number is tattooed on both Bey and Jay's hands, as a wedding-ring alternative.

Good things come in fours for Bey. In her Live at Roseland: Elements of 4 show(a series of concerts that lasted, of course, four nights), Yoncé herself went into the logic behind the number's importance in her personal life. "On April 4, 2008 — eight divided by two is four — [Jay Z] put a ring on it," she explained with a giggle.

We crunched all the numbers, and it looks like Bey is onto something. Four is her lucky number for all the best reasons.

Destiny's ChildWhen Destiny's Child released its first album in February 1998, there were four members: Beyoncé, Kelly, LeToya Luckett, and LaTavia Roberson. Bey was only 17 years old.

From the time when the group was originally called Girls Tyme in 1990 through DC's breakup in 2006, Beyoncé shared the stage with eight bandmates. Shout-out to Farrah Franklin, who only had the range to make it through the "Bills, Bills, Bills" music video.

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Photo: Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images.

Miss TinaTina Lawson (formerly Tina Knowles) was born on January 4, 1954. Miss Tina — as she's known to the Beyhive — might have the distinction of being the only person on this Earth more fabulous than Beyoncé. She's living her best life at 62, and she has the stellar Instagram presence to prove it.

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Photo: Robert Kamau/GC Images.

Jay ZShawn Corey Carter was born in Brooklyn on December 4, 1970. When he's not serving as Bey's official Instagram photographer or Blue Ivy's backup dancer, we hear he moonlights as a mildly successful rapper.

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Photo: Jason Miller/Getty Images.

The CartersOn April 4, 2008, Jay Z became Beyoncé's husband. The couple was married in a small private ceremony, followed by a reception at Hov's Tribeca apartment.

The Carters' marriage hasn't been picture-perfect, and Bey has been honest about their troubles in her work: "Sometimes shit goes down when there's a billion dollars in an elevator," and, "So what are you gonna say at my funeral, now that you've killed me" are just two highlights.

Instead of wearing wedding rings, both Bey and Jay have the roman numeral four tattooed on their ring fingers.

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Photo: Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images.

BeyoncéMark this international holiday in your calendar: Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter was born September 4, 1981 in Houston, TX.

This was also, coincidentally, the day women everywhere felt the earliest whispers of a higher power advising them to get in formation.

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Photo: Robert Kamau/GC Images.

Blue Ivy CarterBlue Ivy Carter was born on January 7, 2012. Her parents chose the name "Ivy" because it sounds out the roman numeral IV, or four.

Since that time, the 4-year-old has stomped into prominence as pop culture's chosen one. The boss-lady-in-training looks poised to rule the world. Her take? "Um, everybody say good job."

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Photo: Courtesy of Parkwood/ Columbia Records.

4Beyoncé's fourth studio album as a solo artist was titled 4. The summer 2011 release was a break from B'Day's funk-inspired sound. It was also the first album Bey released as her own manager.

Highlights from this album include "1+1," "Countdown," and "Party."

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Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images.

President Obama's Neighborhood BallIn 2009, Beyoncé sang at the Inauguration Ball celebrating the election of the 44th president: Barack Obama. Bey serenaded POTUS and FLOTUS with the classic Etta James song "At Last."

After she sang, Bey explained her song choice to ABC News: "I was thinking of all the sacrifices Obama and his wife and his children have made, and at last he's here!" She started crying on air, and apologized for her tears. "I'm just so lucky to be a part of this history. This is probably the most important day of my life, and I'm so grateful."

Two more four-related facts about Obama: The 44th president was born on August 4, 1961, and, of course, he was elected on November 4, 2008.